Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli (L, front) attends the royal cremation ceremony of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej as the special envoy of President Xi Jinping in Bangkok, Thailand, Oct 26, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

BANGKOK — Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli attended the royal cremation ceremony of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on Oct 26 as the special envoy of President Xi Jinping.

During the ceremony, Zhang expressed to Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn the Chinese side’s deep condolences and reverence to the late king and conveyed President Xi’s best wishes to King Vajiralongkorn.

On behalf of President Xi, Zhang invited King Vajiralongkorn to visit China at an early date after his coronation.

King Vajiralongkorn appreciated Zhang’s attendance of the cremation ceremony as President Xi’s special envoy, saying that he has visited China for several times and he would like to visit China again in the future.

King Bhumibol, who had reigned Thailand for 70 years since 1946, was the longest reigning monarch in the world.

He died last October after he had been hospitalized for several years.

He was succeeded by his only son King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who was named crown prince in 1972.

Zhang said beloved late King Bhumibol Adulyadej had made great contribution to the development of Thailand and the improvement of livelihood of the Thai people.

Hailing the late king as “a great friend of the Chinese people,” Zhang said the traditional friendship between China and Thailand has deepened under the late king’s support with bilateral cooperation forging ahead in various areas which brought concrete benefits to both countries and both peoples.

China attaches great importance to the relations with Thailand and put Thailand as a priority of China’s foreign policy with neighboring countries, said the vice-premier.

China is willing to work with Thailand to enhance high-level exchanges and political mutual trust so as to push forward the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership toward new development, he said.

Zhang also briefed Somkid the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), saying that he believed the development of China after the national congress will bring new opportunities to the development of Thailand as well as the relationship between the two countries.